06 July 2016

Takarakuji de 40 Oku Atattanda kedo Isekai ni Ijuusuru. Chapter 46

Changing Nelson’s title from Feudal Lord of Istelle
Territory to Lord Governor of Istelle Province.

I think this is alright.

Also, all the herbs that Kazura mentioned in this
chapter do have their stated effects.

This is the clean version…

DISCLAIMER: I don’t guarantee that I translate 100%
correct....So helping hand is welcome!

The Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan

The Editor:

TheDefend

Chapter
46: Anxiety and Hope

Meanwhile on the same day.

In a certain room in
the mansion, Isaac showed a surprised expression in front of Nelson.

While Havel, who stood
beside Isaac, didn’t show any particular expression and just nodded in consent
with what Nelson had just said.

「 Then, in other words, it will be alright for me to
continue working as Kazura-sama’s close aide in the future, right?」(Havel)

「Yes. Work earnestly and be careful to not incur his
displeasure. Start with becoming someone that is trustworthy on Kazura-dono’s
instructions and do your best on each task to earn his trust and confidence. So
that Kazura-dono could be influenced to give additional support, and if you see
signs that Kazura-dono would end his support then…… What’s wrong Isaac? Is there something bothering you?」(Nelson)

「……Nelson-sama, even if it’s for
the country……or rather, for the people, to scheme for additional support from
Greysior-sama who appeared to save us is rather……」(Isaac)

Isaac answered with a strained expression that made Nelson frowned.

Havel who stood beside Isaac sent him a really cold sidelong glare at him.

「Isaac, do you know the extent
of national power difference between our country, Arcadia and Balveile?」(Nelson)

「……Yes, I do.」(Isaac)

「Then, you can understand this,
right? We don’t know what kind of measures that Kazura-dono will take next, but
he will resolve the food shortage, control the flood, deal with the hygiene
problem, and in addition, if possible, rejuvenate the economic situation in
Istelle Province. With our current situation, when the war resume between our
country and Balveile in 4 years from now, how much do you think the chance of our
country’s victory against Balveile?」(Nelson)

「…… If we cooperate closely
once again with the allied nations just like the times before the armistice
then I think at least we will not be defeated.」(Isaac)

「That’s also true, but there is
no guarantee that in another 4 years, those countries wouldn’t become an enemy
or just stand on the sideline and not cooperating with our country. On the last
war, Balveile was underestimating the various countries in the south and
attacked all of them at the same time. Because of this tomfoolery, the alliance
could come into existence. In addition, at the same time as Balveile southern
invasion, the northern barbarian do a large-scale raid into Balveile, that also
work for our advantage.」(Nelson)

「Nelson-sama, do you think we
will be defeated in the next war with Balveile?」(Isaac)

「Depending on the
circumstances, there we might lose. However, we also keep doing preparation for
the war and perform diplomacy to maintain the alliance relationship. So we
wouldn’t be defeated that easily.」(Nelson)

「Then, why!?」(Isaac)

Isaac asked with criticism lined up in his tone. Nelson leaned back in his
chair and took a small breath.

「…… Just one month ago, Balveile
signed peace treaty with some of the Northern Barbarian tribes.」(Nelson)

「Wh-!」(Isaac)

「They will also do the same
peace or cease-fire treaty with the other barbarian tribes. With their rear
secured, they will definitely come to attack again.」(Nelson)

Beside Isaac who had become speechless, Havel also became wide-eyed in
surprise.

If Balveile signed a peace treaty with the barbarians, then that means in the
next war Balveile wouldn’t need to wage war on two fronts.

In fact, there might be a possibility that Balveile would employ the
barbarians as mercenaries and added them to their factions.

「D-do you mean there is no
possibility to avert the war?」(Isaac)

Isaac said this in trembling voice, but Nelson shook his head.

「Having the peace treaty with
the barbarian who had been severely harassing them until now, they will surely
come to attack us. Furthermore, they had abolished army conscription system and
adopted army volunteer system since 3 years ago. They had recruited a lot of soldiers
from the poor people and increased their standing army numbers. Their diplomats
might say that the peace treaty with the barbarian was 『part of economic policy』, but their real aim was
really clear.」(Nelson)

「……However, how could Balveile
prepared a large amount of equipment and cover the expenditure to maintain such
standing army? In the last war, there were rumors that Balveile had a shortage
of tin…… Did they found new large tin vein?」(Havel)

After Nelson gave his explanation, Havel who was quiet until now began to
speak.

To maintain an army, a large expenditure is necessary.

Calling the citizen to become the soldier in time of emergency and
dissolute the army in the time of peace, is the basis of conscription systems
that Arcadia and the majority of other countries adopted. With this system, the
country only needs to support the army maintenance cost for a limited period.

In addition, the conscripted soldiers’ equipment was provided by the soldier
themselves. This was the typical army system in this world

After all, the cost that is burdened to the country was only the lump sum
payment for the campaign period to the gathered soldiers and the ration cost
that was needed to maintain the army.

However, recently Balveile adopted volunteer system, that was a completely
different system.

Including 『the country prepared the equipment』 that Havel had mentioned
before, there were three important components on the volunteer system in
Balveile.

The first point was that the country would provide the equipment for the recruited
soldier, then they would also provide them with a salary.

With this systems, the poor people, who didn’t have any financial
capabilities to prepare equipment by themselves, could join the army even if
lacking any possession as long as they applied into it, and could rid
themselves from poverty.

In one action the poor people could save themselves, not only this increase
the number of soldiers but if the poor people have a better standard of living,
then the public order would also increase. Killing two birds with one stone.

The second point was that it had been decreed that the soldier service
period was 25 years.

Since the service period had been decided, it would facilitate the planning
of long-term military strategies.

Furthermore, since there won’t be any conscription of the farmers to become
soldiers, it also didn’t have any major influence on agricultural productivity.

The third point was that when the soldier retired they would receive
retirement payment or land grant.

With this, the soldiers wouldn’t need to worry about their livelihood after
their service period finished.

In other words, as long as they could safely finish their service period,
although this also depends on the amount that they save during their service, then
it was not a pipe-dream to retire and living a life of leisure with dignity.

However, to maintain these three points, it would need a great amount of capital.

The equipment that was used by the soldier was commonly made from bronze.

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, but its production yield was small,
and especially because tin was only found in limited areas, which resulted in
its price being expensive.

It wasn’t something that can be obtained in any amount just because there
is money to paid for them. Just like what Havel had said, at the war 4 years
ago, there was a rumor that Balveile had a shortage of tin.

In addition to the equipment cost there also the salaries need to be paid
to the soldiers and the cost for their training. The components where money was
needed were endless.

「That’s true…… It was
unbelievable if they suddenly are able to provide a large amount of expensive
bronze equipment for the whole soldiers. However, the volunteer system tenet is
that it will be the country provided the equipment. It will be impossible to do
it in short time period, but one way or another they will. I received a report
that recently Balveile suddenly increased their timber production, just like
what Havel had said, Balveile might have found a tin ore vein.」(Nelson)

Nelson stopped his words and turned to face Isaac.

「I understand what you want to
say. To request further support for selfish reasons to Greysior-sama, who lent us
his hand to our plea, is something that is really impertinent. So, of course it
would hard for you to approve it easily. But you know, Isaac.」(Nelson)

After he called Isaac name, Nelson leaned forward on his chair and bend his
body towards Isaac’s direction.

「It is necessary to do so. You
also know what happened to the country that was defeated by Balveile. They
would seize all the land and properties and turned the survivors as slaves.
Even if the country capitulate before war happened and annexed by Balveile,
they wouldn’t escape the loss of land and properties. Losing war with them means
that you will lose your freedom for eternity. So I will do all kinds of things even
if it to increase our chance of victory by the slightest.」(Nelson)

「……」(Isaac)

Isaac hung his head down as if he couldn’t reply anything back, Nelson
sighed in his mind and then once again leaned back on the seat’s back.

「Let’s bring this talk to an
end. Isaac, Havel, I am relying on both of you.」(Nelson)

✦✧✦

「Hmm……」(Kazura)

After the pleasant conversation with Lieze, Kazura was staring seriously at
the stone wall on the corridor at Nelson’s mansion.

What Kazura was looking was not the wall itself, but the mortar between the
stones.

Then, after he looked at the mortar or awhile, he then scratched it with
his fingernail.

「Hmmm…… Ah, Isaac-san, just in
time. Can you come here for a moment?」(Kazura)

Kazura understood something as he observed the powder sticking in his fingernail.
At that moment, he noticed Isaac who appeared from the mansion’s interior and
called out to him.

Hearing his name being called, Isaac noticed that Kazura was there and then
came running to him.

「Good morning, Kazura-sama……」(Isaac)

「Good morning…… Hm? Are you
alright!? Your face is pale!」(Kazura)

Kazura was surprised when seeing Isaac’s face.

Isaac’s face was so lifeless it was whiter than white.

「No, I am alright, so
Kazura-sama need not worry about me……」(Isaac)

Somehow Isaac carved out a smile in his corpse-like countenance.

His voice also lacked willpower, so he completely didn’t look like someone
who is alright.

「(Although he usually showed a
rather tired face, but he was fine until yesterday…… He is just like a new
employee feeling depressed after receiving intense scolding from the client or
superiors.)」(Kazura)

Kazura remembered the sight that he sometimes saw when he still working at
the company before he came to this world.

After all, this was the expression of someone who just received a big
shock.

「……Please follow me a bit.」(Kazura)

Kazura said this and led Isaac through the corridor. He asked a maid he met
en route for an empty guest room and asked her to bring some hot water to that
room.

「I will quickly return, so
please wait in this room for a moment」(Kazura)

After they reached the guest room, Kazura let Isaac took a seat in the room
and then head towards Nelson’s office.

Then he grabbed the travel bag he had left in the office, covered it with
cloth and then while under the curious eyes of the patrolling soldiers, brought
it to the guest room where Isaac was waiting.

When Kazura entered the room, Isaac bowed to him while still have a depressed
expression on his face.

「Thank you for waiting. I will
prepare it immediately.」(Kazura)

Kazura smiled to Isaac and took out the candle-style aroma pot, the pouch
with small bottles of aroma oils, glass teapot, and several small bags with
herbs from the travel bag.

「U-Um, may I ask what are you
preparing?」(Isaac)

「I think Isaac-san would enjoy
a cup of tea. Do you like tea, Isaac-san?」(Kazura)

「Eh!? N-No way, does Kazura-sama
want to make tea for me? To trouble Kazura-sama is….」(Isaac)

Isaac stood up with an extremely thankful expression in his face, Kazura
just answered, “It’s fine”, sat down on the chair, and put the herbs from the
small bag into the glass teapot.

「For the last several days, we
were practically working without taking any break, then I think it will be
better if we do have one soon, even if it only a tea break while we have a nice
little chat with each other.」(Kazura)

Kazura said this while putting linden flowers, rose petals, St. John’s
worts in equal amount to the pot.

When he lined up the porcelain teacups from the shelf atop the table,
someone knocked the room’s door.

It was the maid from before who came with the hot water.

Kazura received the copper pitcher with the hot water from the maid, dismissed
her and poured the hot water into the glass teapot.

The herbs softly shuffled as the water poured into the glass teapot, as the
time passed by, the water inside it was beautifully amber colored by the herbs.

While the herbs’ flavor was being extracted by hot water, Kazura poured the
hot water into the aroma pot and put two candles at the base of the pot.

Then, after confirmed that the herb had been nicely decocted, he poured the
herb tea into a teacup and presented it to Isaac.

「Please have a drink, I hope
this will suit your taste.」(Kazura)

「Thank you very much…… What
nice fragrance.」(Isaac)

Isaac brought the teacup closer to his mouth and smelled the herb tea’s
faint pleasant scent that made him have a small smile.

Seeing Isaac took a sip of the herb tea, Kazura poured the tea into his own
teacup and took a sip of it while enjoying the scent.

「How is it? If the taste
doesn’t suit you then I can make another type of tea.」(Kazura)

「No, this is really delicious.
Thank you very much.」(Isaac)

Looking that Isaac had calmed down for a bit after drinking the herb tea,
Kazura smiled.

「Then, I’m glad.」(Kazura)

Kazura then took out the small bottle with lavender oil from the bag with
aroma oil bottles. He opened the bottle’s lid and put several drops of oil into
the hot water inside the aroma pot.

Then he took out a lighter from the bag and light up the candle placed at
the pot base.

「What is this?」(Isaac)

「This is called aroma oil, an
oil we get after extracting the essence of plants in my co-…… in God’s realm. If
we placed them beside the fire like this, then we can enjoy the particular
scent from that oil.」(Kazura)

As soon as the candle in the pot lightened up, the soft pleasant scent of
lavender quickly could be smelled.

「Then…… Isaac-san, I know that
I had requested you to prepare 3000 bags of the same size several days ago, but
if it is really impossible to fulfill, please just say it. After all, I never
demanded that it must be prepared at any cost.」(Kazura)

After Kazura confirmed that lavender scent had filled the room, he spoke to
Isaac with worrying expression on his face.

「No, there is no problem in the
procurement of the cloth bag. We have already asked the tailors in the town to
produce it and I believe it would be finished by tomorrow.」(Isaac)

「(…….Huh? He wasn’t depressed
from the failure from procuring the bags?)」(Kazura)

After hearing Isaac’s answer, Kazura became confused in his mind.

Kazura thought that surely it was because Isaac wasn’t able to fulfill his
instruction so he was scolded severely by Nelson or Zirconia.

However, it seems the cause for Isaac’s depression was something else.

「Is that so, then that’s good.
Since Isaac-san had such gloomy expression, I was thinking that surely…… Umm,
if there something bothering you, then you can talk it with me you know? Ah,
but, if you don’t want to talk about it, no need to force yourself to say it.」(Kazura)

「……Yes……thank you……very much……」(Isaac)

As Kazura spoke with him, Isaac voice became clogged and hang his head down
with an expression as if to cry.

Kazura thought that Isaac had something that he couldn’t share, so he just
silently watched Isaac cast his sight down.

Then, after he watched for awhile and since Isaac didn’t say anything,
Kazura changed the topic.

「Ah that reminds me, there is
something I want to ask Isaac-san, but is this the right time for that?」(Kazura)

「……Yes, feel free to ask.」(Isaac)

Inquired by Kazura, Isaac raised his face.

It wasn’t a face that was on the verge of crying anymore, but a face of
someone who had found the resolution to do a breakthrough for something.

Even his ambiance had changed from the dejected spirit he showed before into
someone who was overflowing with determination to do something.

「(…..Eh? Herb tea and aroma oil
had this extremely powerful effect? Or during the last few minutes, something
had happened inside Isaac-san’s mind?)」(Kazura)

Kazura was bewildered by the Isaac’s sudden mood change.

To cheer up Isaac who had become depressed, Kazura chose herbs that have
antidepressant or relaxation effects and made tea from them for Isaac to drink.

Not only this, but he also used lavender oil that has antidepressant and
relaxation effect.

However, if Isaac had such extreme change of heart, then the effect was too
effective.

Previously, when Valin who was close to death’s door received Lipo-D, it
took about 2 hours until he recovered his physical health.

However, the herbs and oil he used just now wasn’t for physical recovery,
but for the mental effects.

Inside Kazura’s mind, there was a concern about whether the herbs and oils
had a more powerful effect than food.

「(No, wait a moment, if this
true then it couldn’t explain what happened last time when Valetta-san and
Valin-san drank the herb tea. If there is such extreme effect, then since both
of them drank hibiscus tea then they wouldn’t stop peeing.)」(Kazura)

「Umm, Kazura-sama, is something
wrong?」(Isaac)

Kazura was pondering about the effect when Valetta and Valin drank herb tea
last time. Maybe because Isaac feel uneasy when Kazura suddenly became silent, he
asked Kazura with a worried look.

「Ah, no, it’s nothing.」(Kazura)

Kazura answered in a hurry while thinking that it would be for nothing if
Isaac became depressed once more.

Wait, so in the chapter it basically says that hibiscus tea they'd stop peeing but you said hibiscus tea is a diuretic which would make you pee more so... Could you explain a lil more please? Also i think all tea is a diuretic except for rooiboos maybe.

You know I've been wondering what if the gods are real in that world and are just watching everything turn and because of the previous "Greysior" died due to the previous lords before nelson could the real Greysior have tempered with his world allowing him to win that lottery? Which means him coming to the village and ushering new tech be from Greysior watching him?!

It feels like there are more "greysor"'s,atleast there are faint allusions in the sudden progresist accomplishments of the neighbouring country - specifically the new standing army policy and a huge influx of resources. Greysors are probably rich people from another world and this might be a rare case of 2 of them being here or a routine competition between them.

Yea I was thinking the same. He or she pops in and changes things. It would also explain why they could ally the barbarians they would have new stuff to maybe intimidate or give them for a short alliance.

Thanks for the chapter. Just so you know, "price" can't be "expensive". Price is a measure and as such can be "high", "low", "moderate", "exorbitant" etc. The word "expensive" already means "high price" so the phrase "it's price was also expensive" is wrong. It should be either "it's price was also high" or "it was expensive too".

「Then…… Isaac-san, I know that I had requested you to prepare 3000 bags of th same size several days ago, but if it is really impossible to fulfill, please just say it. After all, I never demanded that it must be prepared at any cost.」(Isaac)Kazura ,not Isaac

While bronze is a softer metal, it isn't like iron could cut through it like butter. As long as you don't try to hard block (which is a terrible idea with anything other than a shield anyway), you would mostly just see nicks and scratches. A problem over an entire extended battle or campaign, but not in an immediate fight.

The primary reason to switch to iron was that it was easier to find than bronze components. Prior to proper steel, iron had many negative qualities compared to bronze- -bronze was easier to metal down and reuse (ie- easier to recycle with ancient smelters- even if it got banged up, you can just start over); -bronze might be soft enough to bend... but you can also unbend it as just a guy with a hammer rather than a master smith; -bronze bends a bit... but iron breaks- higher chance of catastrophic failure. Which is why you don't try to hard block with iron weapons either.

So overall, the switch to iron was just to gain the ability to provide a large number of 'good enough' weapons to grunts (...and to eventually get enough that you can make extensive armor later on). They wanted to win with sheer force and they could easily get replacement arms with iron. Also, if there was a lack of tin in your country, you wouldn't have to worry about another country holding that over you on the negotiation table, or cutting off your supply routes. Actual concerns of quality came a lot later when steels and other strong alloys were created.

(Recruiting poorer citizens and have the state paying for their equipment as well giving lands at the conclusion of their service was part of the Gaius Marius reforms - AKA Marian reforms - of the Roman Legion)